The United Nations (UN) is adapting its planning and programmes to better help Caribbean countries ensure that no one is left behind in their thrust to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
From Jamaica in the north, through the vibrant islands of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), to Guyana in the south, the Caribbean has demonstrated a wide variety of development achievements and considerable convergence in the challenges countries face.

Latin America and the Caribbean is a diverse region and does not follow a single pattern of development. This Report is separated into two volumes which share the same narrative: the Regional Human Development Report – the first volume – covers the entire region, while deepening the analysis on Latin America; and this current Caribbean Human Development Report – the second volume – approaches the multidimensional challenges of sustainable development and human progress taking into consideration the particularities of the Caribbean.

ABSTRACT
Background: Climate extremes will increase the frequency and severity of natural disasters worldwide. Climate-related natural disasters were anticipated to affect 375 million people in 2015, more than 50% greater than the yearly average in the previous decade. To inform surgical assistance preparedness, we estimated the number of surgical procedures needed.

The UNICEF Office for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean commissioned this paper to report on (1) the burdens borne by children in the face of threats posed by environmental degradation, climate change and natural disasters, (2) the arrangements in place for mitigating these threats and (3) the relevance of programming on the environment on behalf of children in Small Island Development States (SIDS) in the Eastern Caribbean.